Shear walls comprise the
vertical elements in the lateral force resisting system (LFRS) for many structures. They support the horizontal diaphragms and
transfer the
resultant forces from the applied lateral loads into the foundation. A shear wall
is essentially a deep, thin cantilevered beam projecting from the foundation
that is subjected to one or more lateral forces, such as those due to wind or seismic activity. As
the name implies, the basic form of resistance is that of a shear-element. When
designing wood shear walls, the following components should be considered:

1. Sheathing thickness and grade

2. Shear wall nailing

3. Chord design

4. Strut or Collector design

5. Aspect ratio

6. Anchorage

7. Deflection

Before beginning
a discussion
on the design of shear walls, let us first look at the load path for lateral
forces in a simple low-rise wood-frame building.